Anonymous on 9/19/2010 11:18:54 PM:
Looks like you’ll be heading toward Pueblo, CO thru KS from the Katy. Most TransAM riders find this trail a welcome relief from the hot blacktop curves and hills of southern MO.
Of the TransAM journals/logs I’ve read, no specific routes lead to or from the Katy. It’s more like wide swaths of several wing-it-yourself possibilities. Your choice of Route-47 is as good as any. It will take you thru Washington, which is a very nice town. Be careful crossing the Missouri Bridge north of there tho; it’s fairly narrow. Once across, you’ll hit the Dutzow trailhead, where you’ll only miss about 20-mi of scenic riding on the east end of the trail.
After you reach Clinton, the swath goes southwest, toward the Butler, MO region, from where riders head toward several KS places like, Garnett, Pittsburg, Chanute, Eureka, or Newton to get back on the TransAM pathway to Route-96 which takes you to Pueblo.
The ones who go to Garnett might take a 25-mi stretch of the Prairie Spirit rail-trail down to Iola, from where they will start heading west again. You’ll be okay whatever you do. Just make sure you can cross to the northside of the Missouri River okay. Enjoy the springtime Katy wildlife!